The India Meteorological Department (IMD) Saturday issued warnings for West Bengal as heavy rainfall continues across the state under the influence of an active monsoon trough stretching from northwest India to the Bay of Bengal. An orange alert has been sounded for Jalpaiguri, while several other districts in both North and South Bengal remain under yellow alert for thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds.

In North Bengal, very heavy rainfall of 7-20 cm is expected at one or two places in Jalpaiguri on Saturday, prompting the orange alert. Heavy rainfall of 7-11 cm is also likely at one or two places in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Alipurduar, and Coochbehar, where a yellow alert has been issued. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph are forecast across all districts.

“Possibility of landslides in hilly areas of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts, avoid movement in waterlogging-prone areas and landslides-prone areas,” the IMD said.

In the last 24 hours, North Bengal saw intense downpour with Buxaduar in Alipurduar recording 16 cm of rainfall, followed by Nagarkata (15 cm), Chengmari/Diana (14 cm), and Maynaguri College (11 cm) in Jalpaiguri district.

In South Bengal, widespread light to moderate rain is expected on Saturday, along with thunderstorms and gusty winds at a few places. A yellow alert has been issued for all districts, including East Midnapore, North and South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, Nadia, and Kolkata. The IMD has advised residents to remain cautious of waterlogging in urban areas and avoid sheltering under trees or electric poles during lightning strikes.

Kolkata is expected to witness a generally cloudy sky with one or two spells of light to moderate rain or thundershowers over the next 24 hours. The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to be around 32 degree Celsius and 26 degree Celsius, respectively.

(Anisha Ghosh is an intern with The Indian Express)